Improvement in sewing-machines



' 3 Sheets-Sheet?.- G. L.- DULANEY.

. Sewing Machine. j

No. 37,617. Patented Feb.'1'0,'1863. 'f

#my Five-f N. FEIERS, Fhemmhngmphnr, washington. D. C. I

` 3 Sheets--fSheet 3. G. L. DULANEY. A SewingA Machine.

Patented' Feb. 1o, 1863.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

GEORGE L. DULANEY, OF MOUNT JACKSON, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part ot' Letters Patent No. 372,617, datedFebruary 10, 1863.

lo all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. DULANEY,

' of Mount Jackson, in the county of Shenandoah and StateofVirginia,ha\-'e invented and made certain new and useful Improvementsin Sewing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the lollowing is afull, clear, and exact description ot' the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, making a part of this specin'cation, invwhich- Figure 1 is a right-hand elevation of the machine. Figure 2represents a left-hand elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 represents afront elevation of the machine. Figt represents a reverse view ot' thepedestal clothtable, with shuttle and the peculiar shuttlecarrier andfeed devices. Fig.5 represents the needle detached.

The nature ot' my improvements relates more especially to theconstruction and operation of the needle-bar; secondly, to the manner otcausing thefeed motion; thirdly, to the manner of actuating the shuttle;fourthly, to the manner of causing the tension; fifthly, to the manneror 'mode of taking up the slack thread.

The better to enable others to construct and use my improvements, thefollowing is a full description thereof:

At a a c (t, Figs. 1 and 2, is represented a suitable bed-plate orplatform, mounted, if desired, on suitable supports or legs, b b b b, orattached to any suitable stand or table to work the machine, if desired,by a treadle. To the platform is cast a standard, c 0, to which isconnected in suitable bearings the main coggear driving-wheel d d andthe small pinion gear-wheel e e, both working into each other, andattached by theirjournals or axles on the outside of the standard. Theaxle of the small wheel or pinion extends horizontally through thestandard, and the fly or balance wheelff is confined on the axle ofthepinion and on the inside ofthe standard cc, as shown in Figs. 1 and2,the axle extending suflciently to work through a short standard, g,and to the end of the axle, on the outside ot' the standard, is aftixeda disk or circular plate, 71, h, the balance-wheelj'fand the disk h hextending down through suitable openings formed in the bed-plate orplatform a au a.

At t' t t' t', Figs. l and 2, is shown a side View of a striding orarched-like standard, which is formed with a short arm, J. Said standardis detachable, and is continedin position by tenons in the bed-plate andkeyed orV pinned on the under side, as at K K. To the upper end ot' saidstandard is attached a cross-head piece, L L, formed With a mortise totit over the short arm J. This short arm has two mortises formed on bothsides, as indicated by the dots at m it, Figs. 1 and 2.

At O O is a pedestal-standard formed with shoulders P P and tenon endskeyed through the platform t et, as indicated at 1' r o" r. Thispedestal-standard has cast or formed onto its upper end a curvedtable-plate or cloth-support, s s s s, and is also formed with a largerlongitudinal slot, tt, and a smaller slot, w. The cloth-support s s isformed with a slot, o, at the dots, Figs. 1, 2, 3.

At 'w 'w is indicated a vertically-arranged sliding needle bar formedwith an upper curved or arched like end` X X, and a lower elbow-likecontinuation, Y Y, with a forearmextension, z z, and a finger-likeextremity, 85 &. This peculiar needle-bar is formed ot' one continuouspiece, its main length working vertically immediately behind the archedstandard t' t, Figs. 1 and 2, fitting in the mortises m m n, as dottedin Figs. 1 and 2, the elbow or lower portion, Y Y, and the forearm z zbeing titted to work in notchesin the platform, and indicated by dotsc2, the linger'- like extremity St & being bent through the slot t t ofthe pedestal-standard o o. The needle-arm w tu has its arched partformed with a head and set-screw to hold the needle, as indicated at b2.On the end ofthe needlebar is a small yoke-like device, c2, formed wit-htwo small eyes on the left side and one eye on the right.

At e2 e2, Figs. 1 and 2, is indicated a suitable connection-rod,attached by its ends to the disk h It, and to the long arm of theneedlebar w fw. On its left side ofthe arched part is attached by asmall fulcrum or pivot a curved shape vibrating lever or slack-take-updevice, f2f2, with bent end g2 and a small eye, h2, formed through theupper end, as in Figs. 1, 2.

At t2 i2 is indicated the oscillating shuttledriving lever, of curvedshape, with a straight interval, K2 K2, Fig. 4. This shuttle-driver isformed with a shuttle-carrier, P2 P2, and is connected to the lowerpart, g, ofthe pedestal f o o P P by a screw or pin-axis, L2, Figs. 1,2,

4, and, passing upwardly through a slot, m2, rests within the fork orcrotch n2, Fig. 4, and continuing upwardly beneath the clot-htable s sto receive the shuttle o2 o2 within the carrier P2 P2 of theshuttle-driver fi2'7c2, the

- shuttle being held or supported laterally by the side of the race q2g2, Figs. 3 and 4. The shuttle-carrier is also supported by a lateralguide bar or staple, r2, Figs. 1, l2, tf Attached by a suitable axis,s2, to the side of the shuttle-carrier arm is a gravitating pendentshuttle-adjuster, t2 t2, formed with a bowed end, a2, Figs. 3 and et.rlhis bowed end rests upwardly within a slot or a depression formed inthe under side of the shuttle o2,`and indicated by dots in Figs. 3 and4.

At O3 Oa is indicated the gravitating feed device ofthe curved shapeshown, its butt end formed with an elongated opening, P2, extendingvertically, and through which passes the pivot or i'ulcrum-serew g4, andwhereby the feed device is attached to the outside ot' the pedestal o o,Fig. 3. The upper end of this 'feed device is serrated or notched, asindicated at r3, Fig. 3, and works freely in the slot \V of thecloth-table s s. Through the short curved end of thc feed device O3 ()3is an adjusting or stitch-regulating screw, s.

At 1:2 c2 102102 is indicated a curved au d arched likevertically-arranged gravitating stripperbar or pressure-pad, the lowerend passing downwardly through the platform a a, as at v2, and formedwith a notch, V, in which, it' found necessary, may be employed asuitable spring, V5, to produce greater force or pressure ofthe padagainst the material to be sewed. To this stripper bar or pad isattached aca-m or eccentric-lever device, :r2 m2, and at Y2 is attacheda suitable curved bar, to the end of which is a small dependeut,z2,formed ot'alength of ilexible wire bent together, forming a smalldelicate fork-like device; or a solid strip ot' metal may be splitlongitudinally and the ends thereof opened or slightly extended so as toinsure the desired purpose and to act as grip or takeaffixed to ahorizontal spindle, c, formed withscrew-thread, and said spindle isattached to the end ot' a vertical stud, d2, which is inserted in thecross-head L L. On the horizontal spindle is a suitable nut oradjusting-tap, e, In the cross-head at]s is inserted a smaller stud,

g its upper end formed with an eye, g2. At b2 is indicated the spool ot'thread on the spindle i2, inserted in the leg of thc standard 'i i'.

In my improvement to he operated by a treadle the platform a a isdesigned to be attached to a larger stand or table of any desired shapeand size.

The operation of myimprovcments is as follows, viz: The material to besewed is arranged on the table s s, so as to bear or press oft' forwardand in front from theoperator. The thread from the spool is carried inthe direction indicated by the red dotted line t, and passed through theeye g3 to the right, as at t, under and around and over the railials b2b3 b3 b3 of the rotating tension a3, then to the left downwardly, as atti", and returned through the eye g2, and upwardly through the eyes d2d2 of the needle-bar, thence on the inside through the first left-handeye of the yoke-like device c2 upwardly and through the eye h2 of thevibrating lever or slack-take-up device-f2f2, thence downwardly on theright sidc aud through both the outer holes ot' the yoke device 02 c2 tothe left side, and finally into the Veye of the needle J3, Fig. l. Themachine bcing set in motion by the handle A A, the main wheel workinginto the pinion c, the whole mechanism is thereby set in motion, thedisk h l1. communicating action to the connectingrod c2 c2, which causesthe needle-bar W W X X Y Y to slide up and down, when the needle J3descends, entering the material and passing entirelythrough it,extending below the clothtable s s, so as to form the loop at therequired time to admit the passage of the bobbin in the shuttle O2 O2.

In Fig. 1 the needle-bar W X Y Z is shown as heilig up in position toits extent, with the needle J2 in position, ready to descend. Thefinger-like formation Yor feed-striker, Src., of the needle-har l NV isshown pressing up against the head of the screw s3, which lifts thcfeed-har o3 o3, pressing it upward and to the* let'tat the same timeagainst the material on the clotch-table s s, the gra'vitatingstripperbar or pressnrepad W2 W2 W2 also pressing down on the top ofthematerial.

It will be observed that in the extended p0- sition of the needle-barthe shuttle 02 02 is to thelett-hand edge ot' the cloth-table, and inposition, as indicated in Figli. As the needlebar XY X YZ descends toits utmost position, asin Fig. 2, the needle is shown as havingpenetrated the material and extending through andv beneath thecloth-table s s where the loop of the needle-thread being formed, thethread ofthe shuttle is passed through said loop, the shuttle being inposition to the right, as indicated by the dotted representation oftheshuttlc-carrier P2 P2 Fie. 4 and thus as the needle alternattly entersthe material and the shuttle passes to and from through the loop thethreads are inter-locked, the stitches formed and the sewing produced.

rlhe peculiar features, however, ot' my improvements are the following:The needle-bar W X YZ, &c., being formed of one continuous single pieceof metal, and, because of its peculiar shape, made to perform thefourfold oftice of actuating the needle J3, impelling the shuttle-driver2 K2, operating the feed-bar device o3 P3, and also carrying with it andoperating the vibrating lever or slack take-up f2 f2. This slack-take-updevicef2 thus connected on an axis to the side of the needle-bar movestherewith, and, in passing upwardly, the deected end g2 strikes againstthe small staple g4, by which means the eye end h2 of the same is raisedor thrown upward,describing a short curve, and thereby drawing up theslack thread of the needle, so as to prevent undue length anti spreadot' the loop. As theneedlearm descends the vibrating lever f2 is carried'down with it, the straight part ff2 bearing against the small stapleg4, thus preventing further vibration until the needle-artn is againcarried up.

It will be observed also that the shuttletl fi? has a straight part,K2., which is designed to cause a cessation or slight interval of motionof the shuttle, the object of which intermittent office is to keep theshuttle at rest sufficiently long to allow the needle to pass to itsutmost extent without coming in contact with the shuttle.

With reference to my improved feed-motion device O3 P3 it will beobserved that it is partly self-acting by its inherent gravity, andbeing suspended on its fulcrum bythe elongated hole, having suticientplay up and down and laterally so as to describe somewhat cf an obliquedouble movement, by which means the material being sewed is pressedupwardly against the pressure-'pad W? W2, and forward horizontally fromthe operator, and after thus moving and returning` to its originalposition the feed device O3 Pa falls beneath the material,therebyreleasing it at the required time, and thus alternately feeding thematerial regularly and affording the required stitch. This feed devicemay be so regulated by the setscrew s3 as to give any desired length ofstitch. Thus, for instance, if the screw s3 is turned to the right, thestitch is shortened, and if to the left the stitch is lengthened, owinglto the lingers St & continuing more or less against the screw.

, Another feature ofimprovement is the pendent gravitating self-actingshuttleadjusting device s2 t2 t2, the object of which is to lift theshuttle slightly, and thereby accom modate the shuttle to the curvedsweep or stroke of the shuttlecarrier P2 P2, and prevent any undue sweepor play ofthe shuttle in the race q2 q2, the bow part a2 u2 bearing upand within the slots or depression in the under side of the shuttle, asindicated at u2 in (lots, Fig. 4.

Anotherpeculiarfeatureofmyitnprovemendts is the little gripper or ngerdevice z2, Fig. 1, which is designed to grip or. hold up the slackthread of the needle J3, should there loe too much slack tension. As theneedle-bar \V X Y moves upwardly the cross-thread in the front holesv ofthe yoke device c2 c2 is forced vbetween the grip ends, as at z3, Fig.2,`

and is held up until the needlewithdraws from the materia-lon the tables s, thus most eifectually preventing any undue slack of the tension. v

Another novel feature of improvement is the rotating radial tensiondevice a3 b3 b3, which is regulated by the set-screw or nut e3 e3, Fig.3, which, being turned more or less, tightens the tension. By having theradials b3 b3 the thread is caught or held at intervals. Thus should anyinequalities occur the tension is not interfered with, as would be thecase if a continuous grooved disk or wheel were used, which method isemployed in many improvements in sewing-machines; and another feature ofmy improvements is the shuttle, formed with a groove or a slot on itsunder side, as indicated by the line a4, Fig. 4. This slot or depressionis to receive the bowed adjuster u2 u2, soas to adjust the shuttle toits place, as hereinbefore alluded to.

Having set forth, shown, and described my several improvements insewing-machines, aud desiring'to secure the same by Letters Patent ofthe United States, what I claim as'ot1 my own invention is as follows,viz

`l. The vertically-acting needle-arm composed of one piece of metal, asindicated at W X Y Z, Ste., Figs. l, 2, which performs the severaldifferent offices or mechanical functions' as herein set forth anddescribed.

2. The special construction of the intermit- `tent-actingshuttle-carrier device i2 lo? p2 r2,

Fig. 4, together with the gravitating self-acting shuttle-adjustingdevice s2 t2 102, Fig. 4, as shown and described. I

3. The gravita ting self-adjusting feed device o3 o3 p3 g4, Fig. 3,constructed and operated in the manner described.

4. The self-acting gravit-ating pad o2 o3 vz wz, as constructed, andcombined with the self-acting gravitating feed device 03 03193 g4, thelever device :r2 x2, and the curved bar or tension device y2 y2, withthe small dependent flexible fork-like device v2, Figs. 1, 2,substantially as set forth, shown, and described.

5. Constructing the shuttle o2 o2 with the bottom slot or depression,o4, Fig. 4, and the cotnbination therewith of the gravitaring selfactingshuttle-adjusting device s2 t2 to2, Fig. 4, substantially as set forthand described.

6. The vibrating lever or slack-thread adjusterfzr2 g2, Fig. l, asconstructed, operated, and combined with the needle-bar or arm XV X Y Z,Figs. 1, 2, substantially as set forth and described.

7. The curved bar or tension devices y2 y2 z2, Figs. 1,2, 3, singly orin combination with .the vibrating leverorslack-taket1pdevicefzfzg2 h2,so as to produce the desired effect, in the manner as set forth, shown,and described.

8. The flexible rotating radial tension device a3 b3 c3 d3, Figs. 1, 2,as constructed, set forth, and described.

snol-ten L. DULANEY. [L s] Witnesses SAML. KINGUE, G. H. H. Kooivtrz.

